Turkey sent substantial troop reinforcements to the Syrian border on Wednesday, Alkhaleejonline.com has reported. The move came in the wake of the shooting down of a Russian SU-24 fighter jet which Turkey claims had violated its airspace.
Army sources said that the reinforcements include tanks and armoured vehicles. Strict security measures are being enforced.
The Turkish government insists that its armed forces used standard engagement and warning procedures in the incident. When the warnings were ignored “several times”, two Turkish F16s shot down the Russian fighter.
Russia denied that any warnings had been issued. It described the Turkish action as a “stab in the back” of the international war against Daesh. NATO officials met in the immediate aftermath of the attack and confirmed that warning were issued by the Turkish authorities.
Early last month, when Russian fighters violated Turkish airspace Moscow apologised and said that it would not happen again. Turkey warned then that any future violations would be met by appropriate engagement with incoming aircraft.